“Wait, Estralla! What do you mean?”
exclaimed Sylvia, sitting up in bed.

“I’se gwine to be sold! Jes’
like I tells you. My mammy was over to Massa
Waite’s house las’ night, and she hears
ober dar dat Massa Robert’s gwine to sell off
every nigger what ain’t workin’—­this
week!” Estralla’s voice had drifted into
her old-time wail.

“Oh, Estralla! What can I do?” and
Sylvia was out of bed in a second, standing close
beside the little colored girl.

“I dunno, Missy Sylvia. I ‘spec’
dar ain’t nuffin’ you kin do. But
you has been mighty good to me,” Estralla replied.
“It’s mighty hard to go off and leave
my mammy an’ never see you-all no more, Missy
Sylvia. I dunno whar I’ll be sent.”

“Estralla, if you were earning wages for Mr.
Robert Waite would he let you stay here?” Sylvia
asked eagerly.

“I reckon he would, Missy. But who’s
a-gwine to pay wages for a pickaninny like me?
Nobuddy! Missy, I’se a-gwine to run off
an’ hide myself ’til the Yankee soldiers
comes and sets us free,” said Estralla.

“You can’t do that. But don’t
be frightened, Estralla. I have thought of something.
I will hire you! Yes, I will; and pay wages for
you to Mr. Waite. I’ll go tell him so this
very day,” declared Sylvia, her face brightening,
as she remembered the twenty dollars in gold which
her Grandmother Fulton had given her when she had
left Boston. “You can do whatever you please
with it,” was what Grandmother Fulton had said.

Sylvia had thought that she would ask her mother to
buy her a watch with the money, but she did not remember
that now. She knew that, more than anything,
she would rather keep Estralla safe. Twenty dollars
was a good deal of money, she reflected. If the
northern soldiers would only come quickly and set
the slaves free! But even if they did not come
for a long time the money would surely pay Mr. Waite
wages for Estralla, so that he would not insist on
selling her.

Estralla’s face had brightened instantly at
Sylvia’s promise. And when Sylvia explained
that she had money of her very own, and even opened
her writing desk and showed Estralla the shining gold
pieces, the little darky’s fears vanished.
She was as sure that all would be well now, as she
had been frightened and despondent when she entered
the room.

“Shall I tell my mammy?” she asked eagerly.

“Yes,” Sylvia responded. “I
know my mother will let me. Because Grandma said
I could do as I pleased with the money. And I
please to pay it to Mr. Waite.”